阍 (hūn) - Gatekeeper & palace gate

阍Tone 1

hūn ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

慧佳

阍 · hūn

Gatekeeper;

palace gate;

door to a palace or important building;

also refers to the gatekeeper's role.

Gatekeeperpalace gatedoor to a palace or important building

Usage highlights

Palace gatekeeperKnock at palace gateSubmit at gateGatekeeper's dutyGatekeeper's roomGuard the gate

Synonyms

  • 门— gate, door (more general term)
  • 守门人— gatekeeper (modern term)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The palace gatekeeper (阍人) stood guard.
  • He knocked at the palace gate (叩阍).
  • The memorial was submitted at the palace gate (投阍).
  • The gatekeeper's duty (阍职) was important.

Collocations

  • Palace gatekeeper(阍人)
  • Knock at palace gate(叩阍)
  • Submit at gate(投阍)
  • Gatekeeper's duty(阍职)
  • Gatekeeper's room(阍室)
  • Guard the gate(守阍)

Idioms

  • To appeal directly to the emperor(叩阍无路)
  • The gatekeeper refuses entry(阍者拒之)
  • To beat the palace drum(击阍)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In imperial China, the 阍 was the formal gate to palaces and important government buildings.
  • The gatekeeper (阍人) held significant responsibility controlling access to authority figures.
  • 叩阍 referred to the act of appealing directly to the emperor by knocking at the palace gate.
  • This character reflects the hierarchical access control in traditional Chinese bureaucracy.

FAQ